PODCAST

May 10th, 2017

Haman’s hasty promotion in the Xerxes’ kingdom was not without concern for the Jews living in Persia. Haman’s hateful disposition toward Jews was seated deep in a national memory spanning hundreds of years. It stemmed from a time when God commanded King Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites, including their king, Agag, from whom Haman was descended (1 Samuel 15:3; Esther 3:1).

“All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman. . . . But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor”(Esther 3:2). Mordecai had raised his young cousin Hadassah, who was now Queen Esther. Mordecai felt he had more to consider than Esther’s welfare. He had lived long enough to know that political power in the hands of someone filled with hate for God’s people could have disastrous effects if unopposed. While everyone else knelt down and honored Haman, Mordecai refused.

We are members of a holy body. Standing for truth sometimes takes courage. What decision do you face today?